Sometimes, the side effect profile of a prescription drug sound worse than the condition itself.  For example, some common side effects of the top prescription drugs include muscle pain, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, coughing, hair loss, fluid retention and liver problems.  These prescriptions include medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low thyroid function and diabetes.

Prescription medications can help many people turn their health around, but they are powerful enough to change our physiology and for this reason should not be taken lightly.  The good news is that in many cases, the drugs that are prescribed today are for health problems that could have been avoided 

Prescription Drugs Affect Your Whole Body

The expectation that a medication is going to simply fix one problem while leaving everything else in the body alone is not the reality.  Drugs act system-wide, which is why we have side effects.  For this reason, you should take prescriptions seriously.  They can save lives, but long-term use of certain combinations can put added stress on the body

If your practitioner recommends a prescription drug, do your research: find out what changes you could make in your life to avoid the medication.  Talk it over with your doctor and set a time period in which you will try to make changes to your health naturally.  The benefits of a natural approach can not only save you money but can contribute to lasting health.

Can We Avoid Prescription Drugs?

Preventing the need for prescription drugs is a multifaceted approach that isn't as easy as popping a pill, and it doesn't work for every health problem.  There are certainly situations where prescription drugs are necessary.  However, the health benefits that come with trying to avoid prescription drugs when possible are great.

Here are some ideas about how to keep your body healthy so that you can minimize or avoid prescription drugs altogether:

1. Seek quality nutrition: the food we eat is our most powerful drug.  Long-term diets high in refined sugars, trans fats, and other common preservatives can turn on inflammatory cytokines that can affect our genes and cause disease.  Focusing your meals and snacks on nutrient-dense foods, especially plants (fruits, vegetables, and legumes) can give your cells and DNA the needed vitamins and minerals to carry out daily functions while also preventing disease

2. Exercise: establishing a regular exercise routine is one of the single most important things you can do for your health.  Exercise not only prevents disease, but it can help your body get rid of toxins, strengthen your heart, relieve stress and much more.

3. Shift to a positive outlook on life: studies show that when we feel more positive about our lives, our health often improves.  Positive thoughts lead to positive changes body-wide.

4. Reduce stress: stress is a necessary part of life, but any way that you can lessen your stress burden will help your health.  We know that stress is connected to thyroid imbalances, memory function, hormonal imbalance, and the immune system to name a few.